Earlier this year, Law No 4 of 2006 was introduced to deal with the problem of increasing rents. The law firmly stated that landlords could not raise rents on their properties by more than 10 per cent. However, some owners are managing to exploit loopholes in the law and tenants are paying the price, the Peninsula reported.
In certain cases, especially with new buildings, landlords choose to offer a contract valid for one year. Once that 12-month period lapses, the landlords then issue a new contract with new rent amounts, thereby easily bypassing the 10 per cent hike requirement.
According to Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) Vice-Chairman Abdul Aziz Al Emadi: "The new law has played an important role in stopping the random increase in rents. True, there are some violations by landlords but they are a small minority using trickery to skirt the law."
